164 per cent increase in Health Budget since 2014, States urged to boost spending on infrastructure: JP Nadda

New Delhi: Health Minister J P Nadda informed on Monday that the budgetary allocations have gone up from Rs 33,278 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 90,958 crore in 2024-25 registering an increase of 164 per cent. Of the total budget, 55 per cent of the amount is spent through the National Health Mission (NHM). 

The Minister also urged state governments to spend more on improving healthcare infrastructure and dismissed opposition allegations on the reduction of allocations under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Healthcare Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

During a Lok Sabha debate on the health and family welfare ministry's budget, Nadda highlighted the government's accomplishments, including the rise in medical colleges, measures to lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and initiatives for early disease screening, such as for cancer and sickle cell anaemia.

According to a PTI report, the minister said, "We don't believe in just making announcements. We believe in effective planning, ensuring last mile delivery, identifying bottlenecks in last mile delivery and taking steps to remove them".

On opposition claims on reduction of funds for the health infrastructure mission, the health minister said states were able to spend just Rs 1,806 crore out of the budgetary allocation of Rs 4,200 crore in last year's budget.

"We are giving money, but it is not spent. You spend the money, we will allocate more funds if the existing funds are spent," Nadda said, adding that Rs 3,200 crore have been earmarked for PM-ABHIM this year, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking about the infrastructure of Primary Healthcare and Tertiary Healthcare Centres, the Health Minister informed that under the Modi government, a total of 22 AIIMS were sanctioned out of which 18 are operational and four are under construction. Mr Nadda further informed that the government is implementing Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana to provide quality and affordable medicines to patients.

He said, under this scheme, a total of 13 thousand outlets of Janaushadhi Kendras are operational and the Modi government has decided to open 25 thousand more such Kendras in the next five years. He added that the initiatives taken in the Union Budget 2024-25 will have a far-reaching impact.